Business School Admissions: How Will Covid-19 Affect My EMBA Application?

This page is being regularly updated with new information. 

At this time of global uncertainty, you may be wondering whether and how your application to business school will be affected.  

Will you still be able to sit the tests that are needed for your application to be accepted? Is your chosen business school still accepting international applications? Will you be able to study your degree in-person, or should you only be considering an online EMBA? 

To help answer any questions you have, we are reaching out to top business schools around the world to find out what their plans are for handling current and future EMBA applications. We will be updating this page regularly with new information as and when we receive it. 

United States

The Wharton School

In terms of applications, the EMBA admissions team announced they are now accepting the at-home version of the GRE, GMAT and EA (for EMBA applications with at least eight years of full-time work experience).

Currently, all summer courses and in-person programs at Wharton are being delivered remotely or online. All school events have been canceled or postponed, as well as university-related travel and on-campus visits.

However, Wharton has announced that the school will officially re-open for the fall semester using a hybrid teaching model on September 1 2020. All large lectures will be delivered online, while in-class teaching will involve greater physical spacing between students.

MIT Sloan

MIT has issued guidance prohibiting travel and in-person activities. As a result, in-person recruiting and conversion events have been cancelled until further notice, and the b-school is coordinating to create virtual events for applicants to engage with the community.

EMBA applications for the Class of 2022 opened in January 2020, with the latest deadline set for May 28 2020. Recruiting dates for the Class of 2023 have yet to be announced.

Chicago Booth

Chicago Booth has canceled all school-sponsored events and gatherings through May and June.

In terms of admissions, the school decided to delay the EMBA program until autumn 2020, with an extended deadline for June 1 2020.

UCLA Anderson

Anderson’s EMBA Admissions Office is currently working diligently to transfer admissions events virtually. Admitted Class of 2022 EMBA applicants already had a chance to connect at an Early Admit Event.

To address the lack of in person appointments and interviews with applicants, the EMBA Admissions Office has increased the number of 1:1 appointmentsavailable, and has given the option of either phone or Zoom consultations.

Kellogg School of Management 

For a January 2021 EMBA start, Kellogg has set application deadlines for August 19 2020 (Round 1) and October 7 2020 (Round 2).

The school said in-person lectures will resume from the upcoming Fall semester.

Yale School of Management  

Applications for the Yale EMBA Class of 2022 are now closed. However, the school has said that it will work with individuals who have been unable to complete the application process to potentially accept and evaluate submissions.

 

Fuqua School of Business 

All in-campus events at Fuqua have been canceled, with lectures moving online for the foreseeable future. Applications for the EMBA Class of 2022 are now closed.

 

University of Michigan Ross School of Business 

While the Fall 2020 EMBA class has been filled, application for the Fall 2021 class will open on August 1 2020.

Michigan Ross is closely monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic and making changes to programs where needed, which are announced on the school’s website or privately to applicants who inquire with the admissions team.

Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business

The EMBA admissions teams at Georgia Tech are accepting online test scores as well as GMAT waiver requests. There are two application deadlines left for the upcoming program, on June 30 2020 and July 13 2020.

For Evening and Executive MBA candidates, the requirement for being currently employed have been relaxed for those who have had employment changes as a result of COVID-19.

 

The University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business

In according with the university’s response to the pandemic, McCombs School of Business has canceled all campus visits and in-person events for the foreseeable future. EMBA applicants can attend virtual information, application and admissions sessions with representatives of the program.

While admissions standard did not change, the school delayed most EMBA application deadlines – which closed on June 16 2020. However, applicants can apply post-Round 4 on a space-available basis.

McCombs has given applicants the opportunity to petition for a special test exception if they haven’t been able to take the GMAT/GRE/TOEFL/IELTS because of Covid-19. All EMBA interviews for the final application rounds are to be conducted virtually.

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

To help candidates during this difficult time, Cornell has decided to offer additional time and flexibility in the admissions process and host a number of virtual EMBA admissions events.

While applications closed on May 15 2020, applicants can still apply and accepted on a rolling and space-available basis.

Texas A&M University-Mays

Texas A&M has said applications are still being accepted after the Round 5 deadline closed on May 27 2020 on a space-available basis.

Fox School of Business at Temple University

Although Temple University’s campus is temporarily closed due to Covid-19, most of Fox School of Business’ are running online, include course instructions, student services and EMBA admissions. Application for the EMBA program close on June 30 2020.

Gabelli School of Business

Gabelli School of Business has extended application deadlines for the upcoming 2020 cohort, broadened the GMAT/GRE/EA exemption policy and waived application fees for the Round 5 application deadline.

Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma

Price College of Business has moved the application process to online. The school has a rolling admission policy, with application deadlines for a Spring 2021 start in mid-November 2020.

Sawyer Business School

Sawyer Business School is continuing to accept applications for the fall 2020 cohort. The school has yet to announce whether in-person classes will resume for the upcoming semester.

Canada

Rotman School of Management

All aspects of Rotman’s EMBA application process have been moved online, and application deadlines have been extended. The Round 3 deadline is set for July 29 2020.

Alberta School of Business

Alberta School of Business is expected to make a final decision on the delivery of the upcoming 2020 EMBA program later in the summer.

South America

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Pontifica has moved all activities online, but plans to go back to in-person classes as soon as it is deemed safe on a national scale. The school says they have maintained a healthy flow of applications.

United Kingdom

London Business School

Due to Covid-19, LBS has suspended all non-essential school community events.

Saïd Business School

Applications for Saïd’s EMBA September 2020 and January 2021 intakes are still open, with GMAT/online Executive Assessment exemptions for applicants who haven’t been able to take the test due to Covid-19.

Judge Business School

The University of Cambridge is hoping to be physically open in the autumn depending on ongoing global restrictions. Judge EMBA candidates can apply for a GMAT/EA waiver, which will be reviewed by the admissions team. Successful applicants will be invited to interview for conditional offers depending on their ability to take the tests.

Warwick Business School

To facilitate EMBA applicants, Warwick is currently offering virtual or telephone one-on-one calls to discuss admissions during Covid-19, as well as online webinars.

Students looking to start in September 2020 will attend initial classes online while the situation is being reviewed by the school. The application process has remained the same for both international and UK applicants, with interviews being conducted remotely.

Imperial College Business School

All Imperial b-school programs are currently being conducted remotely. The school is reviewing national guidelines, and is hoping to be able to deliver a combination of online and in-person teaching from September 2020.

Online applications to the EMBA 2021 cohort, which starts in February, are open and accepted on a rolling basis.

Henley Business School

Henley Business School offers EMBA applicants two start dates per year, in spring and autumn. The application process has remained the same, with online events available online.

Nottingham Business School

Nottingham’s EMBA has a rolling enrolment process, and the school will continue to hold virtual interviews for the foreseeable future.

 

Europe

IESE Business School

IESE has replaced all face-to-face events with online versions. The application process has remained identical, with the exception of GMAT/EAT score submissions, which have been waived for candidates unable to take the test due to Covid-19.

HEC Paris

The HEC EMBA admissions team decided to maintain pre-existing deadlines, with applications being processed on a rolling basis monthly. Current decision dates for the rest of the year fall on July 23, September 3, September 17, October 15, November 3, November 19 and December 17.

The school is currently hosting online 1:1 meetings and webinars on various b-school topics.

IE Business School

IE Business School is currently still delivering all classes and admissions online.

ESADE

ESADE is offering a series of EMBA webinars on a weekly basis. 2020 EMBA admissions tests are currently scheduled for October 26, November 16, 23 and 30, and December 14 and 21 in Madrid.

Mannheim Business School

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Mannheim Business School is offering national and international applicants a structured, rolling online admissions process.

IMD

IMD has said EMBA recruitment will continue to run online, with Online EMBA Fairs and one-on-one services available for applicants.

Copenhagen Business School

CBS’ campus is temporarily closed, but the school is hoping to reopen its doors for the September 2020 start. EMBA admissions are currently being held online, including interviews and one-on-one meetings.

Emlyon Business School

Emlyon has moved EMBA applications online. Deadlines remain as scheduled, with EMBA intakes available for October 2020, January 2021 and October 2021. The school is currently monitoring Covid-19 regulations and will announce soon whether it will reopen in October.

ESCP Europe

Recruitment at ESCP Europe has continued as normal, with interviews and one-on-one meetings moving online. To support applicants during this difficult time, the school has extended their Early Bird offer and has increased the number of partial scholarships available.

Trinity College Dublin

Applications for the Trinity EMBA program have been extended until August 31 2020 to allow candidates maximum time to complete and submit their application. Online GMAT/EA/GRE scores are now being accepted for all programs, while IELTS tests have been replaced by Duolingo Language.

Frankfurt School of Finance and Management

The Frankfurt School EMBA remains fully operational, with admission and recruiting activities moving online.

TIAS School for Business and Society

TIAS EMBA applications are currently being held online, with the last deadline set for September 7 2020. The program’s start date is September 16 2020.

Warsaw University of Technology

While Warsaw EMBA recruitment is carried out in three rounds (April, June and September), the school is also accepting applications on an individual basis outside of fixed deadlines.

Applicants can also attend various digital events to learn more about the EMBA program.

Grenoble Ecole de Management

GEM has extended EMBA application deadlines to July 9 2020.

ESMT Berlin

ESMT’s EMBA is set to start on-site on October 5 2020 with a six-day residential session.

Application deadlines remain unchanged, with submissions considered on a space-available basis from September 1.

Politecnico di Milano School of Management

EMBA admissions at Politecnico have been moved online, with one-on-one sessions, digital webinars and online open days available to all applicants.

BI Norwegian Business School

EMBA admissions at BI Norwegian Business School are held on a rolling basis, with the last deadline currently set for January 10 2021. All written applications and interviews have been moved online.

NEOMA Business School

The application process for NOEMA’S Global EMBA has remained the same and fully conducted online on a rolling basis.

Antwerp Management School

The application process for the EMBA program at Antwerp Management School is proceeding as normal, with the 2020 intake beginning in October.

ESIC Business and Marketing School

EMBA applications for ESIC have been moved to online on a rolling basis.

École des Ponts ParisTech

ParisTech has moved all teaching online and made applications to the EMBA program flexible. The school is also offering a second round of Early Bird discounts and industry scholarships.

MGIMO School of Business and International Proficiency

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, EMBA classes and entrance exams at MGIMO have moved online. The last deadline for submitting an application is October 1 2020.

Africa

Sabanci University

Sabanci is continuing the admission process for its EMBA program. The application deadline for the 2020-2021 cohort is currently set on July 17 2020.

Middle East

Suliman Olayan School of Business (AUB)

Suliman Olayan School of Business is currently accepting applications for the upcoming September 2020 cohort. Classes and residencies have been moved to online for applicants and students subjected to travel restrictions.

Asia-Pacific

NUS Business School

NUS has postponed the English EMBA from May to August 2020, and the Chinese EMBA from July to September 2020. The school has also issued flexible deferrals.

CUHK Business School

The school is monitoring the situation to give applicants and students as much flexibility as possible. Applications for the 2020 and 2021 cohorts are now open.

Nanyang Business School

The Nanyang 2020 EMBA intake has started as scheduled, and the school is currently accepting applications for the April 2021 intake. Applications are submitted on a rolling basis with deadlines on October 31 2020, January 31 2021 and March 1 2021.

SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business

SMU continues to monitor the Covid-19 situation and has moved the start date of the 2020 EMBA to October. Recruitment is currently open virtually.

Sydney Business School at the University of Wollongong

Sydney Business School has moved all EMBA activities online, and is currently awaiting instructions on how to re-introduce in-person teaching. EMBA applicants can request remote meetings with the admissions staff.

Global

INSEAD

INSEAD has moved all student activities online across its global campuses.

Joint Programs

UCLA/NUS

The UCLA/NUS EMBA has postponed the programme start to August 2020, and given applicants flexible deferrals and refunds should they decide to withdraw.

ESSEC/Mannheim

Applications are currently open for the ESSEC/Mannheim EMBA starting in October 2020.

Mannheim/Tongji

Applications for the joint EMBA are being held online on a rolling basis.

Purdue/TIAS

The Purdue/TIAS admissions team has extended applications for the joint EMBA program.

BI Norwegian/Fudan

The joint EMBA offered by BI Norwegian and Fudan School of Management is currently recruiting for the 2021 cohort on a rolling basis.

Kentucky (Gatton)/Louisville

The two schools will utilize the 2020-2021 academic year to conduct a full review of the joint EMBA program's curriculum, delivery modes and experiential opportunities.